Good morning, internutz!! Big Chill December 2013 applications are now open! They will run from October 1st through 31st. Please click the ‘apply’ tab at the top of the page, or here, to find the link to download.

This year, The Big Chill will be on Saturday, December 14th and will feature Mayo Street Arts’ main floor filled with local artists, crafters and vendors. Snacks, beer, wine and soft beverages will be available at our bar for shoppers while they do their thing. Additionally, we are transforming the artist studio space downstairs in to Santa’s Workshop where kids and kids-at-heart can make their own holiday gifts for $5. Mom + Dad can leave the kiddos downstairs while they do their shopping, or stay and make crafts if they’d like!

Today’s Vendor Spotlight features Lillianka, with creator Lillian Harris at the helm. If you’re interested in ordering Lillianka items you can visit her Etsy shop or view her wares at The Merchant Company on Congress St. downtown. But if you’re patient we’re sure she’ll be bringing the cream of the crop to share at The Big Chill on Sunday, December 2nd!

Red Wool Button Tote by Lillianka

While Lillian is a tinkerer in all things creative and crafty, she finds her place at home most easily sitting at the sewing machine stitching together functional, stylish art.

Scented Sachet by Lillianka

Looking for a sweet, special gift for the holidays? Our money’s on the scented sachets you see above. Perched in the guest room, tossed in the sweater drawer or anywhere else the scented sachet adds that warm, spicy scent for the season.

Today’s Vendor Spotlight features Lisa Dolloff of Wunder Budder. A bevy of product good for the skin, soul and home! Above you see a 1 oz dose of calendula oil, you know that super soft and special smell baby products have? That’s calendula, and it’s my favorite. A spritz of this and your skin (and smeller) will love you!

Drawer Sachets by Wunder Budder

Wunder Budder was founded in 2002 in Lisa’s mother’s kitchen, and later truly realized in 2010. In addition to a terrific website where you can purchase her wares (although we know you’ll see her at The Chill!) she keeps a journal to chronicle wellness and natural cleaning/treatments in her life. There’s a great recipe for a good, clean time for you and your shower when you visit the blog!

Who wouldn’t love a tin of Garden Grease in their stocking? Wunder Budder

Take a minute to browse the shop, get excited, and keep counting the days til The Big Chill! It’s Saturday, December 2nd, 2012 from 10am to 4pm at Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo Street, Portland. Oh! And stay tuned, because our beautiful poster will be ready for unveiling really soon!

Hey-yo! Hope you’ve all had an amazing summer at the beach, eating ice cream, going on vacation, visiting friends and family, yadda yadda yadda. But get to work, little elves! Because this year’s Big Chill will be Sunday, December 2nd at Mayo Street Arts Center in Portland, ME.

Applications are open on Monday, October 1st and will run through October 31st. We’ll announce our vendors on November 1st! More information about vendor fees, specific times, location and more will be available on the 1st with the applications.

Happy Sunday, all! The Big Thaw is days away (21 days, to be exact) and we’re getting very excited over here at HQ. Craftspeople are hunched diligently over their workbenches, vintage sellers are dusting off their wares, and shoppers are stuffing wads of cash in their mattress that they plan on dispensing at the Thaw. Or at least that’s how our daydream goes! Today we get to ogle over the hand-hewn silver stylings of Judy Babin of Judy B Designs. Click on any image below to visit her Etsy page, or visit Judy B Design’s Official Website. Enjoy!

Judy B Designs

Judy B Designs

Judy B Designs

Judy B Designs

So, please join us and Judy at The Big Thaw on Saturday, May 12 at the Mayo Street Arts Center at 10 Mayo Street in Portland. It’s the day before Mother’s Day!

I’m beside myself! The December 2011 Big Chill Poster is just gorgeous! Each one in the edition of 100 (all signed by Meagan Anderson and Kris Johnsen) is a little different, with layers and layers of colors. Watch that video up there and see just how committed to handmade quality this whole song and dance is. Also you get to hear The Screaming Females as the soundtrack and now you know just how great they are. We’re hoping they don’t get stolen from the shops, boutiques and community centers we are putting them up in before the 3rd! But if they were, we’d totally understand, cause these posters are frame-worthy.

Ladies + Gentle Bens, we are so excited to bring to you the first of THIRTY ONE vendor spotlights featuring our wonderful artists + collectors who will be selling at The Big Chill on Saturday, December 3rd at the Mayo Street Arts Center (10 Mayo Street, Portland, Maine) from 10am-4pm.

Jocelyn Kahn of The Last Domino, as pulled from her Facebook page!

And why not start off with a bang? Portland’s own Jocelyn Kahn of The Last Domino is our first feature. Doesn’t she look sweet? Click here to visit The Last Domino’s facebook page and “like” her!

It’s no secret that we love ‘stuff made from other stuff’ as proven by our past and present vendor rosters. Jocelyn is no exception: her primary products are pendants, earrings, necklaces and more made from repurposed dominos. Yes! Colorful, aquatic creatures with watercolor pigments grace the pages of her Etsy shop (click to see!) as well as a fortune of mermaids and pretty, art nouveau ladies with swirling hair.

Mini Domino Pendant Pair, $15.00 by The Last Domino, click to view listing

Domino Gamepiece Necklace, $28, by The Last Domino. Click to view listing!

We’re also totally impressed with the eastern-inspired, zodiac-like, cosmos-themed game piece pendant we saw at Jocelyn’s shop. Can you believe this? And with a long, brass chain the necklace is ready to wear as soon as your dollars change hands with The Last Domino.

We asked Jocelyn what she thought the first sign of winter in Maine was, and she said the smell of frost and woodsmoke. Yes! With this warm weather snap we’re supposed to have for the next few days it may be awhile before we smell either of those, but you can be sure her bright, colorful designs will keep you from feeling down on even the darkest and woodsmokiest of winter days.

Jocelyn will be peddling her wares alongside Monica from Beadlebot, who we will be featuring this month as well. Stay tuned!